to buy or not to buy...

[Mike Arman]

>From: ReD4000QuATTRo at aol.com
>Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 22:02:25 EDT
>Subject: Re: to buy or not to buy...


>
>> So that's what I've been doing wrong all thse years!


Snipped . . .
>
>
 I'm sorry I made such a foolish comment.  I retract 
>it.  By the way, are you selling any of your vintage cars?
>
>Peymon
>86 4KQ
>


Peymon, no it's alright. I was mostly ribbing you a little, not calling
names or anything harsh like that.

Here's how I get deals on cars (and airplanes and motorcycles and houses) .
. .

1. Keep eyes and ears open. Watch and listen. Take an alternate route once
in a while. Stop and ask. A car parked on tall grass with the area around
it mowed is a sure sign the car hasn't moved in a while. It may be for sale
cheap. Look behind gas stations, and on the BACK row of car dealerships, in
the back of business parking lots. This strategy has yielded me the
following vehicles (among others): A three-year old Ford Econoline van with
one bad piston for $50. Fixed it and drove it for five years. A three year
old VW Rabbit for $400, needed paint, from the local Pontiac dealer. A 1959
356A Porsche convertible for $50 - and I drove it away! This was stuck
behind a gas station - I turned around (in the van above), drove back and
asked "Is that furrin car in the back for sale?" It was. The Munch ("I hear
you're interested in old motorcycles . . . " Yup.) A 1969 Lotus Elan S-4
for one half of the sticker price, and with exactly 45 miles from brand
new. Wife worked for a lawyer then, a company they represented went
bankrupt, no one there know what to do about the car "Well, I'll make it go
away!" A two year old Geo Metro for $1,500, estate sale. A five year old
Cadillac Eldorado for $1,500, perfect body (like the owner), needed a rack
(no comments please). A $500 914, didn't run, local shop rebuilt the
engine, got it wrong. I did it again, got it right. (Rusty ****box, though.
By far the worst car I ever owned.)

Of course, there were a few I shouldn't have bought, too. 1972 300SEL 4.5
Benz, lots of rust and an air-suspension system that makes Rubik's cube
look like a kindergarden toy. 1967 Corvair convertible, $50. Much worse
when opened than I thought. MIGI - a fiberglass body MG-TD on a VW floor
pan, kit car. Cheap garbage, rode like a buckboard - be careful what you
wish for, you might get it.

2. Have some ready cash available. These deals often go away quickly unless
you MOVE - if you go away to "think about it", it may be gone when you get
back.

3. Have a place to store and work on the vehicle.

4. Make sure you don't need it for transportation RIGHT NOW! Remember, it
is BUSTED right now, and while it might be reliable AFTER you've fixed it,
right now, it isn't. Don't be in a hurry.

5. Remember this: Cheap, Fast. Good. Now choose any two.


Best Regards,

Mike Arman